[Ratchet's POV]

It has been nearly three days since the incident, and Optimus is only just now able to move on his own. Rachel, however, hasn't emerged from her berthroom since that day. I imagine she has forced herself into a timed recharge, waiting to awaken until all the dark energon is completely out of her system. I advised her not to, but it was ultimately her decision...

I just hope it was the correct one. 

I can hear movement behind me, and I don't need to turn to see who it is.  "Optimus, as I have said before, Rachel is simply resting and will be fine in a few days." The Prime says nothing, but he simply stands there, staring over my shoulders at the computers. I feel my backstrut tingle in irritation, and I huff before turning around to face him. "Optimus, please. I know you dislike not doing something but-"

"Ratchet."

His tone slightly catches me off guard, and I realize his faceplates were no longer strong and leader like. Instead, concern and worry cover them, and I restrain myself from gasping. His optics meet mine, and I can see clearly that he wanted to make sure she was safe. I let loose a vent and feel myself give in. "Optimus...." I shake my helm, and carefully move past him. "Let's go." He follows me as we head to the berthroom hall, and it takes no time to reach her new one at the end.

However, just as we near the door, I stop. Something was..... not sitting well in my spark. Optimus reaches to the door, but even he hesitates as he nears the paneling. His optics move to my own, and I nod. I press my com and summon everyone to the hall. If my fears were correct....

I don't know what we would do.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[3rd POV]

As Optimus opens the door, both mechs stand back slightly, anticipating the worse. Ratchet's optics scan the room, but he only sees darkness. This doesn't sit well in his spark, and he takes a step back. However, this slight movement seems to trigger something inside the room, and a growl echoes into the hallway. Optimus, his faceplates hardening, steps forward before Ratchet, protectively covering the medic. This only seems to anger the creature inside, and another growl meets their audio receptors. Slowly, lights begin to appear. Bright purple optics glare in our direction, then more violet lights appear in a line, twisting up the wall. Wings get slightly outlined and jaws are outlined by purple as the jaws open slightly. Smoke is evident from the nostrils, and dread fills each spark.

Except one.

The Prime steps forward, no fear evident in his optics or stature. "Rachel..." He speaks, but a menacing growl replies. His faceplates harden. Before he speaks again, a menacing voice echoes around. 

"I don't answer to Rachel anymore, Prime."

Optimus doesn't move, but optics narrow. He stands straighter, and gestures into the darkness. "What would you like to go by?" He asks, gesturing slightly for the others gathering outside to stay hidden. However, the creature inside notices this and growls. "Wouldn't you like to know." Suddenly, the predacon vanishes, all lights switching off and a menacing growl like laughter fills everyone's audio receptors and sends shivers down backstruts.

Optimus doesn't reveal any weapons, however. Instead, he starts to step forward again. He doesn't get the chance to move anymore though, as the predacon suddenly bursts forward and slams him to the ground. Wings suddenly spread out and knock back those who were on the sides in prep for an attack. Ratchet stares at the creature before him as her lights turn back on. Deadly violet purple shines off her spine and optics, and her optics gaze at Optimus carefully. The Predacon's mouth starts to light up, and the Prime only holds her gaze carefully.

Her optics twitch.

The light dims.

Instead, she releases a mighty roar before launching off the Prime and crashing through the base to the main area. Bumblebee, having recovered from the attack, buzzes a loud warning, and Arcee rushes after the metal dragon. "The kids won't stand a chance!" She yells, and this makes the others follow swiftly. Ratchet stays behind, helping Optimus up. The Prime struggles, but soon makes it to his peds. The medic gazes at him, surprised he wasn't racing after them as well, but the Prime says one thing. "She will not hurt them." However, a human shout followed by metal being torn open makes the medic question the Prime's statement.

In the main area, Bumblebee and Arcee find themselves in a startling scene. Raf was slightly hanging over the edge of a railing that was torn almost from the catwalk. He looks as if he had been holding someone, and they slipped. Miko was standing helplessly at the lift.... 

Or what was left of it.

The doors were torn apart and the insides mangled like something massive rammed through without stopping. Arcee rushes into it, stepping over Miko and glaring up the empty passage way. Claw marks lined the insides of it, making Arcee growl in agitation. A whimper from below makes her gaze down, and spot Miko being consoled by Lennox. He gazes up, slight anger and irritation in his eyes. "What the hell is going on here?!"

Arcee starts to explain with anger, but Miko stutters out. "H-He's gone...." She gazes up, staring straight into Arcee's optics. "She took Jack."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, the escaped Predacon silently flies in the air. Her eyes are narrow, and she seems to be flying towards a place that is known to her, and yet she has never been there. One front clawed ped is wrapped around the form of Jack, who has his arm resting on her top claw. His eyes were squints, attempting to seeing while shielding them from the wind. He still couldn't believe what was going on. One second, him and Raf were talking about another way to cloak the base and add on another section in case more autobots arrive, and the next his sister was barreling through with a malicious aura around her.

Jack closes his eyes at that. He could remember how her violet optics bore into his eyes. They were hard, but a twitch made the slightest streak of blue zip across them. She then slashed the railing away and grabbed him, all before he could even speak. Now, he just only hoped that twitch was of remembrance....

And nothing else.

Suddenly, Rachel begins to descend, diving towards mountains with white caps. Carefully, she angles herself for landing, and keeps her clawed ped holding Jack up. Folding her wings against her back, the Predacon slowly walks into a cave, massive enough to hold her. She stalks to the very back wall, gazing around as if this was her home.

Their home.

In her mind, the lone Autobot was still out, stuck in recharge, but Broadwing was active, and his senses led them here. Coming to a stop in the real world, Jack gazes around, then finally spots something in the wall before them. Rachel's optics gaze at it, and she then turns and lays down. She releases Jack for a moment, but before he can run, she slides her tail in front of him and covers the rest with her wing. Her head silently lays beside the end of her tail, and she shuts her optics. Jack, trapped, huffs and lays against her gut. His mind ponders over what he saw, until he remembers the piece of predacon that was within Rachel.

The rest was residing in the wall behind him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hey guys, Aviator here!

So, I know some of y'all don't usually comment or what not, but I'm asking you to at the end of this chapter. I really don't care if you like my stories right now, or not, but I would appreciate a comment saying how you are doing if you are in an area dealing with this Corona-craze. If you don't know, yes I'm a Believer, so I want to pray for you guys since that's the only real thing I can do for you all right now. I don't really know you that well, but since you are reading my stories, I know we share at least something in common, and I'm one of those typical 'pack bound with anything' humans. I care about y'all and want to make sure you are doing well. I'm not going to force my beliefs on you, but I want to do what I can to help. Since we are all quarantined where I'm at (no one has it, but schools and businesses are shutting down), all I can do is pray.

So let me know!

Anyways, stay safe out there y'all, and please for the love of all things Holy,

Stop. Hoarding. Toilet paper.

There's literally nothing left at some stores near me.

Anyways, Goodnight/morning/afternoon/day!

Thanks for reading~